Unlike the lower city, upper Canterlot is awash with light from street lamps and windows, even though from the former only about one out of three is lit, every house looks occupied, and there are occasional ponies going about their business in the streets.

As Three and Thirteen walk through the streets, Three slows down and stops, reading a plaque over the entrance of what looks like a big, very official building.

“No rain, nor snow, nor eternal night or giant tentacles inserted into our partially-willing orifices will stop us from doing our duty. You post here, we deliver anywhere,” reads Three out loud.

“The Post Office,” Thirteen reads the banner hanging above the main door, limp in the still air, “They, uhh, deliver stuff I guess? That motto is strangely specific.”

“Yep, I’m wondering how they know where to deliver-” Three stops and hums to himself, “I’ll be right back,” he darts inside the lit and busy building.

When he walks outside again, he’s scribbling something with his mouth into his journal balancing on one foreleg.

He can do that even without holes? I can barely walk straight!

Thirteen sighs to herself.

“What was that about?” she asks.

“I’ve never used the one in Brauheim so I was curious how it works and they said I just needed to write something on a piece of paper, put it into an envelope, buy a stamp, lick it, and glue it to the envelope. Then I leave it here or in any big mailbox in the city, they collect it, and deliver it to the pony or address. They even have stamps for changelings that don’t melt when we lick them! They have pictures of bad mom on them. I’ll show you when we’re back home.”

“Ooookay,” Thirteen resumes following Three who has stashed his journal away into his backpack again, “How far are we from that wizard order place? I saw a pair of those purple-armored guardsponies looking at me while I was waiting.”

“It’s near the castle,” Three leads the way, “but upper Canterlot isn’t a big city. Half an hour tops if we hurry.”

“Should we think of a plan or something?”

“Why?”

“Isn’t what we’re doing illegal or something? It feels illegal,” Thirteen furrows her brows, realizing something feels off.

“Umm, no?” Three shrugs, “I mean, miss Gem and everyone think it’s stupid but we’re past that. We have enough gold and gems to pay anyone skilled enough thanks to miss Gem’s fortune, so… I’m not seeing anything wrong here. It’s not as if we want to summon a demon here and let it loose on the city. It’s us going in there.”

“Oh. Well that… just feels kinda easy, you know?” she chuckles.

“It’s not like we have to do everything in some shady way. As long as we stay disguised, we’re just two ponies with some unusual business.”

“Huuuh… you’re right.”

Just like most of the upper city, the foyer of the complex of buildings of the Orders of Wizardry is dimly lit, filled with white marble pillars decorated with gold foil, and almost completely empty.

However, unlike the rest of the city, there’s the buzzing of an alarm coming from somewhere around the receptionist’s desk on a three steps raised dais from where an elderly unicorn in a light blue robe is peering down at Three and Thirteen over the rim of his glasses.

“Oh dear,” his face is twisted into a pained grimace, “Could you two changelings transform back into yourselves? Otherwise we’ll never stop the damn thing.”

Three and Thirteen exchange glances.

“Do we run?” asks Thirteen through the hive link.

“Only if he recognizes us.”

With green shimmer, they both return to their normal forms and the alarm stops. With a sigh of relief, the old unicorn behind the desk slumps back into his chair.

“I apologize for that,” he says, “It’s a good thing almost nopony is here or we’d have sleepy and angry wizards everywhere.”

“Oh, we’re sorry,” says Three, “We thought it was business hours.”

“It is, it is,” he shakes his head, “But it’s the damn darkness too, you see? Everypony sleeps when they feel like it, and most of us are fairly… rich in years. So, now that’s sorted, how can I help you?”

“We’re looking for a wizard for hire, someone who knows about Tartarus.”

“A summoner, eh?” the unicorn scratches his head, levitates a thick book on the desk closer, and starts flipping the pages, “The vast majority of wizards are either busy recharging magical crystals - government contract, you see? And the others work on some special project with Her Majesty these days,” he hums to himself, “This could work. Try Bound Tome. Tartarus is a bit out of his expertise but he does a lot of summoning. His suite is on the second floor, number nine,” he points to the staircase on the left side of the room.

“Thank you very much,” Thirteen bows.

“You’re welcome, pretty lady.”

Three waves at him before heading off.

“I’ve thought of a problem, Three,” says Thirteen mentally.

“I’m listening.”

“What if no one here wants to help us no matter the money?”

“We… tell them that it’s really important?”

“I’m sure that with the amount of gems we got from Gem anyone we offer it will know it’s crucial for us. I’m thinking of a situation where that’s not enough.”

“We find someone else?”

“You heard the wizard. There’s no one here. We need to figure out how to make sure this works.”

“Okay. Any ideas?”

“I’ve learned some hypnotic stuff. I’m not any good at it but if you keep the wizard occupied, my pheromones could help a little.”

“I’m not sure about forcing anyone.”

“It won’t do any harm, we’ll just be a bit more persuasive.”

“I suppose that’s okay. Last resort, though, okay?”

“Sure.”

They stop by the right door announced by a small plaque on it reading Bound Tome. Unlike other doors, there’s no list of academic titles which means to Thirteen that either this is some fairly new wizard or everyone who comes here knows who this is.

Three isn’t bothered by her train of thought and knocks immediately.

“Come in!”

For no discernable reason, the office looks like an underground cellar. There are no windows and every drone instinct in Three’s head is screaming at him that he really is underground which makes him shake his head and look closer at the black rocks, realizing they’re covered in thin layer of corrupted biomass.

So is the unicorn walking up to the two puzzled changelings.

“A unicorn at the reception told us you might be of help with a magical problem we have,” says Thirteen, “I’m Thirteen.”

“Three,” the drone nods.

“Bound Tome,” the unicorn shakes Thirteen’s hoof with a soft smile before shaking Three’s, “How can I help you?”

“We need to get to Tartarus,” says Three, “The wizard downstairs said you did summonings and stuff.”

“Ooof!” Bound Tome stops and blinks, “Summoning? Yes. Demonology? No,” he shakes his head, “I’d send you to an expert but everyone is working in the castle these days.”

“Why aren’t you?”

“My magic disagrees with other unicorns in a potentially… fatal way. You see, I research how magic effects work in combination with corruption,” he nods to the biomass on the walls.

“Wow, I thought corruption kinda jumps on unicorns casting spells and eats them,” Thirteen’s eyes go wide.

“Yes,” Tome scratchs his head, “That would be the potentially fatal part. My speciality is blood magic coupled with corruption. Considering that so far I’m the only one who can do it, it’s a highly niche research topic. It also completely messes up the magical processes inside my body, so I need to figure out how to cast every old spell in a new way.”

“So you can’t help us then?” Three slumps, “We have some gems,” he opens the pouch around his neck and lets Bound Tome see.

“I’m sorry but it’s not about money, really,” he pats Three’s head, “I could do it if I had the right sourcebook but I’m in the middle of something else and this place isn’t ready for it. I don’t even have a proper summoning circle here-”

“Mister Tome?” Thirteen speaks up and walks closer to him, her eyes gleaming, “You want to help us.”

“I-” the unicorn blinks.

A deafening roar makes the suite shake as a humongous Corrupted pounces out of the biomass on the ceiling, knocking Thirteen on the floor and putting his huge hoof on her side with a warnng growl.

Three doesn’t fare better, as at the same time a perfectly smooth Corrupted mare slips out of the floor and hugs him, absorbing him inside her and reforming until only Three’s face is sticking out of her chest.

“Thanks, Bastion,” Bound Tome nods at the muscular Corrupted stallion under whom Thirteen is trying to avoid being noticed by breathing as slowly as possible. It doesn’t look like she’s being hurt at least.

“We’re really sorry, but we need it. It’s connected to the sun being gone and everything-” Three speaks up despite feeling rather comfortable stuck inside the black mare. It’s like floating in a warm tub where you can’t move.

“And I believe you, which is why Bastion there and my summon here have been exceedingly gentle to you. Look, come back in a week or two, I’ll send a message to the castle to find the right unicorn for the job, okay?”

Three sighs.

“I don’t think we have the time, mister Tome.”

“I don’t think you have a choice, Three,” he looks at Thirteen still frozen under Bastion’s hoof, “Let her go.”

With a grunt, Bastion steps away and lies down on the floor, slowly draining into it and disappearing. The mare does the same, dripping down like a waterfall and leaving Three standing alone.

“Awww, she was a good hugger,” he looks downwards.

“You can control Corrupted?” Thirteen gathers herself off of the floor.

“No,” Bound Tome nods towards the door where a black tentacle grows out of the wall, grabs the handle, opens it, and points outside, “and the discussion into the nature of my magic would take time I don’t have. Now I’m politely asking you to leave. My offer still stands, though. If you need a proper demonologist, I can get you one in few weeks.”

Three sighs.

“Thank you for your patience, mister Tome-”

“And I’m really sorry,” Thirteen hangs her head.

The unicorn waves his foreleg dismissively.

“Still better than daily politics in Canterlot, and it will make for an amusing little party story. Goodbye.”

“Bye!” Three leaves, waving.

Outside the Orders of Wizardry campus, the changelings exchange glances, shapeshift again, and head for the hour-long trip home.

“I’m sorry for messing it up,” Thirteen sighs.

“Hey, you didn’t see me having a better idea,” Three bumps her leg with his head, “We did what we could at the moment. Maybe we should talk to miss Gem about it again in case she knows some back-alley unicorn who isn’t working for the princesses.”

“Gem thinks the whole idea is stupid.”

“That’s why we need to sit down and have a proper chat.”

Back in Gem’s house, as soon as Three raises his hoof to knock on the door, Gem opens it with an expression unreadable to Thirteen which nonetheless means something must be going on.

“We’re… sorry?” her ears droop preemptively.

“Come with me,” she says, leading the duo to the kitchen.

Neither Harriet nor Magpie are there, instead…

“Voila,” Gem grins.

Three starts vibrating at eye-watering frequency.

“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”

Who awaits them in the kitchen is tall, blonde changeling mare with lust swirling around her like a pink fog. Unlike any other changeling present, her golden eyes glow with divine power.

“Glad to see you again too, dummies,” says Comfort, ”I’m hearing you want to visit auntie’s home.”

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” Three’s buzzing grows louder and Thirteen’s knees go weak.

“I suppose an explanation’s in order,” chuckles Gem, “You see, when you can overhear me talking, you can be sure I can hear you. I had a long time throughout this trip to think about it, and I think you’re right, Three. I want answers.”

“But you said his idea was stupid,” objects Thirteen since Three seems to be unable to do anything other then squee, buzz, vibrate, and keep turning his head from Comfort to Gem and back so quickly it’s a blur.

“I said the idea of making Flow bring back the universe was stupid,” Gem tilts her head, “But Three infected me with curiosity, and now I need to know if what I did was right, if I understood the situation correctly, or if I directly caused the apocalypse we’re living through. Harriet and Magpie followed my guess that Cromach and Desert Shade were on the good side no matter how things looked, that bringing Vertradict to Brauheim would help bring Flow back. I NEED to know.”

“And while you were gallivanting around Canterlot, Gem visited a brothel where she can contact me whenever she wants,” Comfort smirks, “Much safer than trying to hypnotize the only living corrupted wizard, wouldn’t you say?”

“What?” Gem glares at Thirteen. She didn’t bother scanning the minds of both changelings after their return, which still clearly is the first thing Comfort does.

“I’ll explain later, if you don’t mind,” Thirteen lowers her head with an apologetic smile, “What’s wrong with Three anyway?” she tries to draw attention away from herself.

“I CAN’T DECIDE WHO TO HUG FIRST!”

Then, for a moment, reality shatters, and Three splits into two, one pouncing at Gem and one at Comfort, giving each a chitin-cracking hug. When the strange spatial warp ends, Three is standing in his original spot, beaming from ear to ear without buzzing or anything, and both mares can still feel the vice-like grip of his forelegs.

“And I’m supposed to be the one with weird powers,” Comfort shakes her head, “Anyway, we should go.”

“Should we bring anything with us?” asks Thirteen.

“Nah,” Comfort shakes her head, “We won’t be long. Come over here.”

Gem, Three, and Thirteen huddle in front of Comfort until a surge of pink flames burnes all four of them away, leaving nothing but a small ashen mark on the floor behind.

Name: Boss or anyone who can give it to him.

Address: Underground, I think.

Hi, boss! It’s me, Three. I’m writing a letter because I don’t know how to get back to you and the nice ponies at the Post Office said they delivered everywhere, even in the Griffon Empire. It’s my best shot right now. Even miss Gem doesn’t know where you might be, and we’re expecting that ponies are looking through the tunnels we went to the Crystal Empire in the first place.

Umm, I guess I should start with that, shouldn’t I? Princess Candy and prince Shiny knew where our secret entrance to the Crystal Castle was and they were super mad at us for… well, you know. Despite that and being locked up in prison (don’t worry, most creatures were actually really nice), I helped build the farm machines and they’re sending them all over Equestria. Thirteen was keeping an eye on me all the time.

We found miss Gem and her friends who were locked up too because the princesses thought she’s behind the sun and stars going away. Now we’ve escaped and made our way to Canterlot. Unfortunately, all that means is that ponies are now mad at us for escaping from prison. I can’t tell you what our plan is just in case someone reads this letter, I just want you to know that we’re all okay.

For now, I mean, because against miss Gem’s wishes, Thirteen and I are trying to get to Tartarus to talk to Flow.

I know it sounds stupid but it isn’t, I promise! Besides, Five, Six, and Seven were in Tartarus and returned just fine. Plus miss Comfort lives there anyway, doing her succubus stuff. We might actually be safer there than here on the surface.

You of all changelings would understand if you were in the pocket dimension with me. I know Flow threatened to kill us all as well as the dwarves but he’s not a bad guy. I can’t explain it and it’s been eating me inside all this time. All that anger from everyone against him, all the destruction and pain he caused, and yet I can’t help feeling something is missing. I just need an explanation, some closure or anything. I need to meet him. And in case I’m right and he’s really so incredibly powerful he might even be able to help heat the world or remake the sun completely.

We’re going to hire a wizard to get us there. I’m writing this now, just in… just in case I’m wrong.

I made a really wrong choice when we were escaping the prison and it… killed ponies. No, it’s my fault. I killed ponies. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t do it with my own hooves.

I wanted to know how I could be sure that a decision I want to make will be the right one and the only answer I got was that it was impossible. The best thing I got was to have a plan in case I’m completely wrong. This is it. If I’m wrong, if something bad happens to us, I just want you to know we made it here. Miss Gem is okay and ponies will have the food like you wanted. It’s just me and Thirteen in danger.

I hope you’re doing well.

PS: If miss Two’s or miss Five’s expeditions have already reported in, give them a hug for me. You have those proper long legs, so you can hug miss Cryo too. I can barely reach around her foreleg.